Has a life-long interest in species conservation, especially the lesser-known species. Co-founded the Zoologische Gesellschaft fuer Arten- und Populationsschutz and Stiftung Artenschutz; together both organisations have raised over € 3,000,000 for species conservation projects.
Was chairman of the IUCN/SSC Small Carnivore Specialist Group from 1986 to 2000.
Additional website: www.zgap.de/index.html